Surging D-backs set for series with slumping Bucs

Wandy Rodriguez will take the mound on Monday, and it couldn't come any sooner for the Pirates.

Pittsburgh sports the league's lowest hit total (21) and batting average (.119) after Sunday's loss to the Dodgers -- their ninth straight in Los Angeles -- and second straight series loss. The Bucs will look to get another strong outing from Rodriguez, who will take the mound in Monday's opener against the D-backs at Chase Field.

When Rodriguez won his season debut on Wednesday, it gave him six wins in a 35-game stretch dating back to August, compared with a total of five for the other Bucs starters. He hurled a gem in that debut, blanking the Cubs on two hits for 6 2/3 innings.

Rodriguez is 3-6 in his career against the D-backs, with a 5.48 ERA over 46 innings pitched. However, he bucked the trend in his most recent start at Chase Field in 2011, allowing two hits and no runs in six innings.

After topping the Brewers for the series sweep Sunday night, the D-backs will answer with Trevor Cahill. The right-hander cruised through his first start against the Cardinals last Tuesday before hitting a wall in the sixth, in which he gave up a two-run shot to Matt Holliday on his way to allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Cahill shined in his only prior matchup with the Bucs in 2010, allowing no runs through 7 2/3 innings in a 5-0 shutout. He finished the game allowing just two hits while fanning 10.

Pirates: Bucs enjoying the southwestern heat
The Bucs won two of three last year against the D-backs and have gone 3-2 in their last five games. In the last five games at Chase Field, Pittsburgh has a .283 average, with six home runs and 18 runs scored.

• Pittsburgh entered Sunday's game as the only team in the Majors that had not allowed more than three runs in a game this season. That streak was snapped in a 6-2 loss to the Dodgers..

D-backs: Parra packing the power
Gerardo Parra has already impressed manager Kirk Gibson with his blazing start to the season at the plate. That figures to continue, as Parra owns a career .308 average with 10 RBIs in 23 games against the Pirates.

"He's barreling balls, for sure," Gibson said. "He's made some adjustments, he's learned how to stay back better. He's a strong kid. He's off to a good start. It certainly helps him to be playing every day right now, too. [Martin] Prado's been a great influence on him."

Worth noting
• After Sunday's win, Arizona has started the season 5-1 for just the third time in franchise history.

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